Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-28
WEDNESDAY. ..SEPT'R %, 1887
MIR. Watterson's Compromise.

We are pleased to he able to state
that Mr.. WATTERsoS is not half so I'M
reasonable as n person might suppose
him to he who had read none of the
productions of his pen except his de-
nunciations of Mr.. RANDALL and his
avowals of his determination to attempt
to have that gentleman turned ont OF
the Democratic party. In a leader
commenting upon an article which
recently appeared in the Dis
match, he manifests what EMERSON
might have called statesman
like spirit-that is, a willingness
to do not the best thing that could I'M
der other circumstances be done, but
the best that can be done under exist
ing circumstances. That is all that
those of us whom Mr.. WATTERsoN
has been for years censuring expect to
gain at any one time. We have always
been willing "to give and take"
We have not room to reproduce oil OF
Mr.. WATTERsoN's article. The reader
can easily infer its contents, however,
from what we shall have to say.
First, we have TO say that "the full
significance of the Roanoke platform
was fully understood by us, seeing that
there is, We believe, not one plank
upon which We had not stood pre-
viously to its incorporation into that
platform. And so far as the tariff
question is concerned, we have for
wears advocated just what the Roanoke
resolution advocates. SO we can assure
the COuricr-JOTadi that there has not
been manifested any nc'c disposition
to unite the Democrats of Virginia
with the Democrats elsewhere in IA re-
vision of the tariff" We have for
wears favored It's revision, and never
hesitated to pronounce the existing
the worst tariff, except perhaps one,
under whose operation this country has
ever suffered. But we do not believe
in horizontal tariffs, nor Procrustean
tariffs of any other sort. Nor do we
believe in putting upon the free list for
the benefit of northern manufacturers
articles which but for the free list they
would have to purchase in Vir3 inia.
Secondly, surely the Cowicr-Joar-
nal did not suppose that we were 50
ill-informed as to deny the proposition
that 1.-the reduction of duties does not
necessarily mean increased revenues
We have all along maintained that the
reduction of duties did not necessarily
mean decreased revenues. The former
proposition is contained in the latter.
But what is Mr.. WATrERsON's COM
promise? Here it is:
"Repeal the tax on tobacco.
"Reduce the duty on imports.
"Enlarge the free list.
"Refuse bOuntics to mOnopo'lsts,
but destroy no Legitimate interest. "
The words "enlarge the free List .
NAV not convey the same idea to our
mind that they do TO Mr.. WATTERsoN's'
We should not object to enlarging the
free list so as to leave sugar untaxed.
He would, We suspect. More the free
list might be enlarged by a hundred or
more articles, We should say at a guess.
After quoting Mr.. WATrERsoN's COM
promise as above, We said a week or
two ago:
"Now, then, let it be understood
that Mr.. Watterson is willing to abolish
the tax on tobacco, as well as to do the
other things to which his paper pledges
him. and that he speaks for his party,
and there will be no longer any good
reason for two factions in the Demo
cratic party owing their existence t.
differences of opinion on the tarlh
question.
Mr.. WArrERsoN comments as fol-
lows:
"This might have been understood
long ago. From an economic stand
point We believe the tobacco-tax both
wise and Just, but politics means com
promise, and has ever since Abraham
and Lot fixed up. their little difficult
ties. Preferring partial relief to no
relief at all, the COurier-J0Undt has
EXPRESSED a willingness to surrender
The tobaceo~tax. providing always that
the bill embodying this concession
should also provide for o substantial
enlargement OF the free list and for
reduction of the war-tarin schedule,
which is greater by 1870 per cent than
the schedule provided 10y the Clay com
promise OF 1888.
az the Richmond Dispatch and the
Richmond Wig in their later utter
aneee represent the Democratic party OF
Virginia il is nc longer possible to
nostpope action on this subject. We
believe in practical politics; we be-
lieye that in assuming control OF the
Government the party assumes respon-
sibilities which il must discharge. The
party exists for certain ends. IL it,
organization is OF a character 10 defeat
all attempts 10 fulfil its pledges, it will
be driven from power and given time
and opportunity for reorganization"
We again object to the phrase "lster
utterances. We have hereinbefore
explained why we object. But that is
not an important point.